“I survived.”
Those were my first words after leaving Klein Hall following Temple Law’s 2015 1L orientation event. Orientation week included informative lectures, a few classes, and dozens of handshakes and introductions. Ultimately, I was able to get my first taste of life as a Temple Law Student.
Over the summer, I spent time relaxing and reading up on what life is like as a law student. Despite this, I entered orientation feeling uneasy and unprepared. I found myself thinking, will I like living in Philadelphia? What if my professors and peers don’t embrace me? What if I am unable to transition into being a law student? Luckily, 1L orientation helped erase these questions and more.
Orientation began with the Dean’s Welcome. Inside the Hogwartz-esque Mitten Hall, Dean Epps and Dean Esten greeted the day division students with warm remarks. This was the first time that I came face to face with my new peers, and despite a very active incoming student Facebook group, it didn’t sink in until that moment that many of those social media faces were the people I would start my next chapter with.
As I looked around, I saw that some of my peers were from vastly different backgrounds. Some looked fresh out of undergrad like myself. Some students looked more seasoned. Some sported wedding bands and others came from opposite corners of our continent. Despite our different backgrounds and resumes, one thing seemed to connect nearly all of us; uneasiness. Although every student in the building possessed a stellar academic background, none of us were exactly sure what to make of one another, our new faculty, or the workload that was soon to be in front of us.
“I was able to see that my professors were actual human beings, and not the Socratic tyrants that I and many of my peers had nightmares about experiencing.”
Believe it or not, I found this to be relieving, not only for myself, but to many of the classmates that I spoke with. We were all in the same boat. The uneasiness of a new beginning started to dissipate as we started to get to know one another and understand some of the expectations of being a Temple Law student. Information sessions addressed questions including study habits, Wi-Fi access, library usage, and how to find a great lunch truck or cheesesteak. Current 2Ls and 3Ls also stopped by to share a few pointers. Student support services and various student organizations also appeared during orientation to share their offerings to our class.
Throughout the week, many members of the faculty also introduced themselves and provided words of encouragement. Although there was a lot of information to digest overall, and doing so was a tad boring at times, it was quite relieving to have such thorough information provided throughout the week.
Additionally, we experienced our first Legal Research & Writing and Litigation Basics classes. Seeing my professors in action and getting a feel for the atmosphere of a real law school class allowed me to quickly gain additional confidence. I was able to see that my professors were actual human beings, and not the Socratic tyrants that I and many of my peers had nightmares about experiencing. On the other hand, we also learned that the workload and preparation that is expected of us cannot and should not be taken lightly.
Lastly, perhaps the highlight of the week was Thursday night’s Pledge Ceremony. At the ceremony, all incoming students (both day and evening divisions) dressed in business attire and together pledged to abide to our duties as legal professionals with integrity and commitment. In front of Dean Epps and many of our professors, we then received our Temple Law pins.
To me, this ceremony was a symbolic moment of my transition from if to when. Instead of asking myself IF I would be able to succeed, I was now excited and optimistic about the opportunity to soon be able to answer yes to them. I, along with my peers, was now officially a Temple Law student.
One week down. Three years to go.
